Why Sir Paul is in the pink!
That pink wall is one of LA’S top tourist attractions Nick Bilton
A PINK building in Hollywood owned by Sir Paul Smith has become one of the world’s top Instagram attractions.
The rectangular building – one of Sir Paul’s many fashion outlets around the world – is a real hit wioth tourists.
The shop, in the famous Melrose Avenue, opened in 2005.
Since then Sir Paul’s company says it has “established itself as a landmark”.
A spokeswoman for Paul Smith said: “Located on Melrose Avenue, the shop’s vibrant pink facade stands out against the brilliant blue LA sky.
“Inspired by Luis Barragan’s confident and optimistic use of colour the shop, with its unique facade, has become a destination, attracting visitors from all over.”
The global fashion label was founded by Sir Paul h in 1970, when the Beeston native opened his first shop in Nottingham’s Byard Lane.
More than 50 years later the brand sells in more than 70 countries with more than 17,000 stockists across the world.
Not only this, but Sir Paul’s quirky style, reflected in the design of his Los Angeles shop, has gone down a treat with people on Instagram.
A HBO documentary called Fake Famous, released this year on Sky in the UK, visited the building.
Narrator and former New York Times tech reporter Nick Bilton said it had now been photographed by more Instagram users than most other tourist destinations on the planet.
Simply typing “Paul Smith pink wall” into Instagram brings up more than 24,000 posts.
The documentary was a social experiment involving three nonfamous people who try to become social media influencers by faking fame.
During the show, Mr Bilton says: “In order to get away from the hustle and bustle and never-ending grind of everyday life, you’d get on a plane and fly somewhere warm, like Los Angeles, and spend a week bobbing from one attraction to another.
“The Hollywood sign, strolling along Venice Beach, admiring the architecture and zipping through the canyons and coastlines and taking in the sparkle of Tinseltown.
“Now, people get on a plane, fly to LA, and go to a pink wall to take selfies. In fact, that pink wall is one of LA’S top tourist attractions.”
He also revealed some people pay $2,000 each to go on an “Instagram vacation” and take a photo with the pink wall.
From dogs wearing sunglasses and upcoming models to motorbikes and beauty products, almost everything under the sun has been snapped there.
The brand has opened a second store in Downtown LA.
Further commenting on the wall and the shop, upon its opening many years ago, the fashion label said: “A typical Paul Smith trademark is mixing the old with the new.
“The space is divided into two separate boutiques and each room creates an individual atmosphere with the look of film sets.
“The women’s boudoir is housed in whitewashed walls for a light, airier feel creating space and femininity whilst the men’s collections are displayed in a more masculine surrounding in dark mahogany wood.”